Indicating device



INDICATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 3, 1922 WITNESSES: INVENTOR WM Geovse M Eaton Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oral-cs ELECTRIC &

MANUFACTURING, COMPANY, A CORPORATION or PENNsyLvAnrA.

mnionrme DEVICE Application filedNoveniber a, 192 2. s'riarna'sesms.

My invention relates'to indicating devices, and it has particular relation to such devices as maybe employed in connection with transformers, circuit breakers or'other electrical ap aratus.

n'e object of my invention is to provide a reliable means :for indicating a predetermined condition of a deoxidizi'ng substance 1n 7 an isolated atmosphere.

A-second object ofmy invention is to provide va-lsimple means for visually indicating arpredetermined increase in weight of a deoxidizing agent.

A further object of my invention is to provide mechanical means for indicatin aepredetermined. change. in a chemical-su stance.

It zhas be'en ascertained that desirable results in the operation of transformers, circuit breakers and other electrical apparatus may be secured if suitable means are provided for maintaining the insulating oil therein free from moisture. It hasbeen found that it is desirable also, to maintain an inert-gas in the space above the insulating oil in order to prevent the formation of an explosive mix ture of oxygen and hydrocarbon gases. In the. application of Otto H; Eschholz, Serial No. 592,898, filed Oct, 6, 1922, for improvement in gas filledtanks, and assigned'to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company,is disclosed the use of phosphorus as adeoxidizing agent for the production of an inert atmosphere above the insulating oil and for the absorption of such moisture as may be contained in that atmosphere.

Itis well-known that phosphorus in the presence 'of air absorbs oxygen, the resultin product being phosphorus pentoxide 0 It has been determined thaton'e poundof phosphorus will unite with substantially 1.29 pounds of oxygen, the resulting product of phosphorus pentoxide weighing substantially 2.29 pounds. Accordingly, if phosphorus be used for the purpose described above, the condition of complete or substantially complete oxidation of the phosphorus may be known if a predetermined change in weight of the product be indicated in some suitable manner.

According to the present invention, I utitight-connection.

sulatlng oil is, under ordlnary clrcumstanoes, 1

. central portion,

- also that the latter lize the above-described property of phosphorus to operate a visual indicating'device when a predetermined changein Weighthas occurred. A lever arm'is rotated'throu ha predetermined angle whenthe weight: of the compound reaches a predetermined" value.

In the. accompanying: drawing, thesin'gle' figure is a sectional view ofa' portion of-a transformer tankrwith my. invention embodied therein. v I p Referring Y to the drawing, 1 a transformer tank 1, which may, insulating-oil 2 to the level indicated, is provided'with a suitable covermember'3, which may be detachahly connected'thereto in' any desired or suitable manner I to secure air- The space labove the ininitially occupied byvair.

An indicatlng'device 5,'which is securedto the lower side of the cover m ember 3, com prises a lever arm 6 that i's-supp'orted,at its by a bracket member 7. At one end of: the arm'6, is suspende'd'acontainer 8 into whichz may beplaced a desired 5 V supply .of' phosphorus or: other suitable deoxidizing agent. A counterweight 9 is'- :sus-

pended from the other end of'the arm 6%to normally maintain theflatter in it's'illustrated position in engagement'with a stop member 10.

for example, be filled with The arm6isprovided.with suitable depending lugs 12 inord'er that it may not slide longitudinally on the bracket 7 when it occupies'an inclined position. A pin13,which exte'nds transversely of the arm 6, insures may not move upwardly such distance that the lugs'l2 do 'notengage the bracket 7.

Attached to the container 8 is upwardlyextending rod or indicator M'thati's sur rounded by a tube 15of 'gla'ssi'or other -suit-' able transparent material- 'through which the position of the indicator may be observed. This tube, which may be-sirn'ila'r to that employed 1 in connection with steam and water gauges, is securelyfastened to the cover'memher 3; by a screw-threaded portion '16.

Itrrnay bevassume'd that the container 8 is supplied with a charge of phosphorus or other suitable deoxidizing agent and that the space 4 is filled with ordinary air. It may be assumed further that the enclosed atmosphere has been effectually isolated by the securing of the cover member 3 in position. The phosphorus gradually absorbs oxygen from the surrounding air until the latter is reduced to substantially nitrogen which is an inert gas. As oxygen is absorbed, the weight of the phosphorus increases correspondingly. A normal supply of deoxidizer may last for a comparatively long period, providing temperature changes within the tank cause the introduction of only small amounts of additional oxygen through leakage or other causes.

However, when a predetermined weight is reached, the lever arm 6 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in the drawing, until the counterweight 9 engages a stop member 17, depending from the cover member 3. This position of the rod 14, which may be of any suitable color, indicates that the deoxidizing agent is substantially saturated and that it should be replaced by a fresh supply.

While I have shown and described a device in which the indicating member is withdrawn from its normal position when a predetermined condition of the deoxidizing agent has been reached, it will be appreciated that the rod may, if desired, be secured to the opposite end of the lever arm 6, whereby it is not visible until the predetermined condition is reached. It will be understood, also, that the indicating member may be attached to any desired portion of a movable member of the device.

While I have shown and described an arrangement in which the indicating mechanism is attached to the main cover of a tank for a transformer or other electrical apparatus, it will be understood that a separate detachable cover or man-hole cover may be utilized in order that the main cover need not be removed to replenish the supply of deoxldizing agent.

A device constructed in accordance with my invention is of such simple and rugged construction that it is not subject to damage or derangement by reason of rough handling of the apparatus in connection with which it is employed. The chemical condition of the deoxidizing agent is indicated by the positive action of the mechanical device in accordance with physical properties of the deoxidizing agent.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a tank containing an isolated atmosphere, an agent for absorbing a component of said atmosphere and weightresponsive means for indicating a predetermined condition of said absorbing agent.

2. In combination, a tank containing a fluid and an isolated atmosphere, an agent for absorbing a component of said atmosphere and weight-responsive indicating means operative when said agent reaches a predetermined condition.

3. The combination with a container having therein a liquid medium and another medium comprising a plurality of gases, one of which with a gas evolved from said liquid medium is adapted to form an explosive mixture, of means for restraining formation of said mixture, and indicating means controlled by said first-named means.

4. The combination with a container having therein a liquid medium and another medium comprising a plurality of gases, one of which with a gas evolved from said liquid medium is adapted to form an explosive mixture, of means for absorbing said one of said gases, and indicating means controlled by said first-named means.

5. The combination with a tank containing a liquid medium, apparatus in said medium traversed by an electrical current, said apparatus under abnormal operating conditions evolving gas from said liquid medium, and a second medium in said tank and comprising a plurality of gases, one of which with said evolved gas forms an explosive mixture, of means for restraining formation of said mixture, and indicating means controlled by said first-named means.

6. The combination with a tank containing a liquid medium, apparatus in said medium traversed by an electrical current, said apparatus under abnormal operating conditions evolving gas from said liquid medium, and a second medium in said tank and comprising a plurality of gases, one of which with said evolved gas forms an explosive mixture, of means for absorbing one of said gases, and indicating means controlled by said first-named means. I

7. The combination with a tank containing liquid hydrocarbon, apparatus in said liquid hydrocarbon traversed by an electrical current, said apparatus under abnormal operating conditions evolving gas from said liquid hydrocarbon, and a medium in said tank and comprising oxygen which with said evolved gas forms an explosive mixture, of means comprising a mass of phosphorus for, absorbing the oxygen from said medium, and indicating means controlled by said firstnamed means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 25th day of October GEORGE M. EATON. 

